nature

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Sometimes circumstances dramatically affirm my belief that God has a plan and he is continually preparing us for the next episode.

Last week Nancy and I spent a couple days in the mountains.

Early Thursday morning, I left for a hike. As I walked down the road toward a trail-head I was surprised to come upon a befuddled young couple. We were in a remote area, a place where you do not expect to find other people. They were as surprised to see me as I was to see them, but they were also hopeful. Like Nancy and me, they had looked for someplace to camp and did not find a convenient spot. However, in their exuberance, they managed to drive their car around a Forest Service gate and then became hopelessly stuck in the snow. They set up their tent on a small patch of ground where the snow had melted and spent the night there. When I found them they were trying to get their car out. When they saw me, I became a fresh hope. Would I be able to help them?

After assessing the situation, I agreed to try to pull them out with my truck. The biggest obstacle was getting around the gate. I don’t know how they managed to get in there, but I figured my Toyota could go anywhere their Subaru could go. And it did! Actually, it didn’t take much time for me to pull them out.

They were very grateful and said I was a God-send. I enjoyed the adventure.

As I reflect on the situation, I am amazed. The two 20-somethings that I helped were in a difficult spot. The chances of finding another person in that particular location are extremely slim. Even if they did happen to find someone, that person might not be willing and able to help them. They were facing a long day of walking, hitchhiking, and unplanned expenses such as Forest Service fines and tow truck fees. However, because I was there, their big problem became a small problem that was resolved in under an hour at no cost to them.

When they told me I was a God-send, I felt they were exactly right. God has a plan for us and he equips us to accomplish that plan. Our job and joy is to walk in his plan.

Last Monday morning as I was planning my week’s activities, I realized that there was some open space. A flexible schedule combined with a growing case of spring fever gave rise to the idea of spending a couple days in the mountains. I felt I could arrange my tasks so that I could be gone from Tuesday afternoon until Thursday evening. The weather was calling for warm days with scattered rain showers. So I convinced Nancy, my wife, that she wanted to play hooky with me for a couple days.

Tuesday morning we tied up loose ends and pulled together supplies and left home around 1:30PM. We drove east to Idaho with sleeping bags, tent, enough food to keep us going several days, and hopes that the weather report was accurate. We became a bit concerned when we crested the pass near where we intended to camp and saw piles of snow ten feet tall. By the time we dropped to our camping elevation, the snow was less than a foot deep. Nevertheless, we adjusted to Plan B and slept on our air mattress in the bed of the Tacoma. We spent Wednesday and Thursday having an adventure and creating memories.

I am always recharged by the mountains. I particularly enjoy going into the mountains with Nancy. I am convinced there are few things we do that does more for my spiritual, emotional, and marital health than spending time in the clear air of higher elevations. It is there where I am reminded of the beauty of God’s creation and the power of his will. What joy! What refreshment!